A standardized preadmission shower regimen that includes 118
mL of aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, per shower, with a minimum of 2
sequential showers; and a 1-minute pause before rinsing results in maximal skin
surface concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate. This concentration (16.5 µg/cm2) is sufficient to inhibit or kill potential surgical wound
pathogens.Although surgical infection outcomes were not assessed, the findings suggest that pre-operative chlorhexidine bathing must be formalized and clearly protocolized with easy to use instructions in order to result in adequate antibacterial effect. This remains a work in progress.